GARDEN SUBURBS: DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Ag tús an fhichiú haois, tháinig dearcadh nua ar an bhfód maidir le pleanáil agus leagan amach do na scéimeanna tithíochta. Chuir an t-idéal de ‘Bhruachbhaile Gairdíneach’, tithe sábháilte, fairsinge i spásanna áille glasa chun cinn, slán ó shalachar agus drochshláinte na n-ionad uirbeach. As Sasana a tháinig an smaoineamh seo agus scaipeadh é go hÉirinn faoi 1910.

In the early twentieth century, a new way of thinking about the planning and layout of housing schemes became increasingly popular. The ‘garden suburb’ ideal promoted healthy, spacious homes in attractive green locations, away from the filth and ill-health of urban centres. Originating in England, the idea had spread to Ireland by 1910.

Rear of houses at Casino Road, Marino, showing the gardens in use. Courtesy of G. & T. Crampton Archive / Joe Brady.

Recently completed Dublin Corporation housing at Nash Street, Inchicore, 1911. Its small houses at high density in a rigid grid was typical of pre-WWI schemes. Courtesy of Dublin City Library and Archive.

Although World War I prevented house construction, discussions about future programmes for housing and reconstruction continued. In 1919, Britain’s Local Government Board published the ‘Manual on the preparation of state-aided housing schemes’, while an equivalent set of plans for site layout and house types was issued for Ireland. These marked a major shift from the previous purely functional approach. New estates would consider both practical and design aspects. Healthy fresh air would circulate more freely due to low density development, while houses were wider and positioned to maximise sunlight. The ‘appropriate’ garden suburb density of 12 houses to the acre was much lower than previous norms of 40 or more houses per acre. Instead of grid-like layouts, a more varied layout was used, including the cul-de-sac. Houses would have gardens both front and back.

Internally, the standards met were part of a drive to raise the quality of working class housing. Standard houses would be larger than before, with two living rooms and three bedrooms. Some houses also had a parlour. Indoor toilets, baths and hot water plumbing were included.

In 1925 the Free State’s Ministry of Local Government issued a further five-volume series of model housing plans. This influenced the appearance of houses built by both private builders and by local authorities. The plans were based on existing schemes, some from as early as 1920. Both single-storey and two-storey plans were included, as were variations for areas where sewers and water mains were unavailable.

Most local authorities chose four- or five-roomed houses as standard during the 1920s. This was larger than the typical pre-war local authority cottage and designs were also more varied. Higher minimum standards in construction quality, site design and layout were adopted. As in Britain, private developers were forced to copy these high standards. As early as 1923, suggestions were being made in the Irish Builder that the standard of housing being enforced was too high! As these designs were implemented, they gradually changed the face of housing across the country.

Aerial view of St. Brigid’s Place, Sligo, showing a typical garden suburb layout. Courtesy of Mediahuis Ireland and the National Library of Ireland.

Original 1912 grid layout for Church Street showing 246 houses, a density of 65.6 houses per acre. Courtesy of Dublin City Library and Archive.

The amended plan for the Church Street scheme retained the overall grid structure, but incorporated a playground. This reduced the density.Courtesy of Dublin City Library and Archive.